Fluid control device



May 10, 1938. A. KLAWITTER 2,117,096

4 FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed sept. 28, 193e 72 1 Il ll .24 /5 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\f -m Mnd/eza Maw/772) Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE FLUIDA CONTROL DEVICE Andrew L. Klawitter, Chicago, Ill. Application September 28, `1036, Serial No. 102,805

2 Claims.

The invention relates to uid control `devices and more particularly to pressure actuated devices especially adapted to control the flow of combustible gases and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure actuated uid control device of such character that the pressure of the fluid passing therethrough may be utilizedin a simple and efective manner to actuate the same, the device being rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pressure actuated fluid control device of such character that the iuid passing therethrough may be utilized to exert a selectively varied differential actuating pressure thereon without the necessity of providing special bleeder connections or the like as has heretofore been the practice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the featuresof novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Fora better understanding of the invention reference may be had tothe accompanying drawing in which Y l Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a fluid control device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section valong the line 2-2 of the device shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of theldevice shown in Fig. l, a portion of the device being sectioned along the line 3-3.

For purposes of illustration the invention has been shown as embodied in a device particularly adapted lfor. controlling the flow of combustible gas o-r similar uids to a space heater or other consumption device. `In general, the fluid control device comprises a casing Ill` having an inlet I I andoutlet I2 the flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet being controlled by a pressure responsive valve element illustrated in the form of a valve disk I3 carried by a flexible diaphragm I4. The valve disk YI3 is movable to open and closed position upon the application' of uid ,pressure to opposite sides of the diaphragmlll, the weight of the valve disk normally serving to maintain the sameein closed position. The lower side of the .valvedisk I3is exposed to the inlet pressure, which tends to move the same to open position while a valve means designated generally by the numeral I5 is selectively operable to subject the upper side of the diaphragm I4 to inlet pressure thus closing the valve disk or alternatively to direct fluid away from the upper side of the diaphragm to the outlet thereby permitting opening movement of the valve disk.

In the particular construction illustrated the 5 casing ID includes a main body member I6 and a `cover member Il. Both of the members I6 and `I 'I are generally cylindrical in shape and are provided with complementary recesses I8 and I9 respectively in the adjacent faces thereof, which co- 10 operate todene an interiorly located chamber within the casing. The casing member I6 is cored out to form a passage 2|] communicating with the inlet II and terminating in an upwardly extending circular opening 2| surrounded by a sharp 15 edged valve seat `22 on which the valve disk I3 rests. A supply pipe or conduit 23 is threaded in the inlet opening II and a similar discharge pipe or conduit 24 is threaded in the outlet opening I2. V

The edge portion of the flexible diaphragm I4 is clamped between. the opposed faces of the casing members I6 and I'I, the casing members` being held in position by cap screws 25. The valve disk I3 is secured to the center of the diaphragm 25 I4 by a bolt 26 having suitable washers 21 interposed between the adjacent surfaces of the diaphragm and valve disk. Sufficient flexibility is had in the diaphragm I4 to permit the disk I3 to move` into closed position on the valve seat 22 30 and alternatively to open position in which the valve disk is spaced upwardly away from the valve seat to permit the flow of fluid from the inlet II` through the passage 20 and opening 2l into the chamber I8 and thence to the outlet I2. 35

The valve means I5 serves in general to subject the upper side ofthe diaphragm I4 to inlet pressure in order to close the same or alternatively to direct fluid from the upper side of the diaphragm to the outlet thereby permitting open- 40 ing of the valve element I 3 underthe pressure exerted thereon by the fluid entering through the passage 20. The valve means I5 may be either manually operable or automatically operable by a suitable thermostatic control device or the like. 45 For the sake of simplicity a manually controlled valve means has been illustrated. Thus, in the particular construction shown a two-way valve isprovided which includes a tapered valve body 28 journaled in the bore 29 formed in an up- 50 standing projection 30 on the `upper casing member I'I. A compression spring 3l surrounding an adjusting screw 32 on the end of the valve body 28 and bearing against a washer 33 serves to maintain the valve body 28 firmly in position in 55 the bore 29. A thumb grip 34 is provided on the end of the valve body 28. Upon reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that an L-shaped passage 35 is formed in the valve body 28 and as is hereinafter described in greater detail, this passage serves to effect two alternative fluid connections for the recess I9 on the upper side of the diaphragm I4 in the two rotative positions of the valve body 28.

When in the position shown in Fig. 2 the passage 35 in the valve body 28 serves to complete a fluid communication between the inlet I I and the upper side of the diaphragm I4. This fluid communication is had through a by-pass conduit formed by a bore 36 in the lower casing member I6, an aperture 31 in the diaphragm I4, and a bore 38 formed in the upper casing member l1. Fluid thus passes from the inlet I`I through the communicating bores 36 and 38, the passage 35 in the valve body 28, and then to the recess I9 on the upper side of the diaphragm I4 through a passage 39 in the upper casing member I1. It will be noted that the portion of the upper side of the diaphragm I4 which is exposed to fluid pressure in the chamber I9 is of much greater area than is the lower face of valve disk I3 which is subjected to inlet pressure in the passage 20. Consequently, when the inlet pressure is applied to the entire upper surface of the diaphragm I4 upon turning the two-way valve to the position shown in Fig. 2, the valve disk I3 will be held in its closed position due to the diiferential in total pressure after having been closed by its own weight.

When the valve body 28 of the two-way valve is rotated ninety degrees in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, it serves to establish communication between the upper side of the diaphragm I4 and the outlet I2. This communication is had through a second by-pass conduit formed by a passage 40 in the upper casing member I1 terminating at one end in the bore 29 and at the other end in the center of the upper side of the casing member. A second passage 4I formed in the upper casing member I1 communieating with a passage 42 in the lower casing member I6 and a registering aperture 43 in the diaphragm I4 also constitute part of the second by-pass conduit. The return flow of fluid from the outlet I2 to the upper side of the diaphragm I4 through the second by-pass conduit is prevented by a check valve designated generally by the numeral 44. This check valve includes a disk-shaped casing member 45 having a recess 45a in the lower face thereof overlying the upper end of the passage 49 as well as an annular recess 4B formed in the upper surface of the casing member I1. A flexible disk-shaped valve element 41 is clamped between the members 44 and I1 by screws 48, the valve element being provided with a series of apertures 49 (Fig. 3) located above the annular recess 46. A passage 50 is also formed in the member 45 communicating at its opposite ends with the recess 45a and passage 4I.

In the operation of the fluid control device described above, the valve body 28 of the two-way Valve is rotated to the position shown inFig. 2 in order to close the main valve disk I3. In such case pressure fluid from the inlet II passes through the bores 26 and 28, passage 35, and passage 39 to the upper side of the diaphragm l`4. As was previously noted, the inlet pressure is thereupon applied to the entire upper surface of the diaphragm I4 thus overbalancing the pressure applied to the lower surface of the valve disk I3 and closing the latter.

In order to open the valve disk I3 the two-Way valve body 28 is rotated ninety degrees in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby cutting off the flow of pressure fluid from the inlet II to the upper side of the diaphragm I4 and at the same time permitting fluid to flow from the recess or chamber I9 on the upper side of the diaphragm to the outlet I2. Thus, fluid is permitted to flow from the chamber I9 through passage 39, passage 35, and Valve body 28, and through the passage 40. The pressure of the fluid in the passage 40 is applied to the lower surface of the check valve element 41 lifting the same so that the fluid may flowthrough the recesses 43 and 45aL and then through passages 58, 4I, and 42 to the outlet I2. The pressure on theupper side of the diaphragm I4 is thus relieved so that the valve disk I3 is moved to its open position by the inlet iluid pressure applied thereto through the passage 2D. At the same time, the check valve ,44 prevents the return flow of fluid from the outlet I2 to the upper side of the diaphragm. When the valve disk I3 is in its open position, fluid is lfree to flow from the inlet II through passage 20, opening 2|, and chamber I8 to the outlet I2.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to such particular embodiment but on the other hand, the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as myl invention:

1. A device for controlling the flow of combustible gas or the like from a pressure source to a restricted outlet such as a gas burner device comprising, in combination, avalve casing having an inlet and an outlet, means including a main `valve element and a movable actuating diaphragm therefor in said casing for controlling the flow of gas between said inlet and outlet, one side of said diaphragm being exposed to the pressure of the gas in said inlet for moving said diaphragm to open position, means operable at will for by-passing gas from said vinlet to the other side of said diaphragm to move the same to closed position and for alternatively establishing a passage from said other side of said diaphragm to said outlet to relieve the pressure thereon and thereby permit opening of said main valve element, and means including av check valve in said passage operable to permit only a unidirectional flow of gas to said outlet through said by-pass for preventing the fluttering of said main element to minimize the pressure drop in the gas flowing past the same.

2. A device for controlling the flow of combustible gas or the like from a pressure source to a restricted outlet such as a gas burner device comprising, in combination, a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, means including a main valve element and a movable actuating diaphragm therefor in said casing for controlling the flow of gas between said inlet and outlet,one side of said diaphragm being exposed to the pressure of the gas in said inlet for moving said diaphragm to open position, said casing defining a chamber communicating with the other side of said diaphragm, means defining passages cornmunicating with said inlet and outlet, means including a two-way valve for alternatively opening one of said passagesvand closing the other to establish communication through the said first passage from said inlet to said chamber for exerting a closing pressure on said diaphragm and alternatively to establish communication through said second passage from said chamber to said outlet tc relieve the pressure on said diaphragm and permit opening thereof, and

means including a check valve in said second passage operable to permit only a unidirectional flow of gas to said outlet from said chamber for preventing the uttering of said main valve element to minimize the pressure drop in the gas 5 flowing past the same.

ANDREW L. KLAWITTER. 

